Hot journal box detecting means



July 5, 1949. v H. F. KENT 2,475,030

HOT JOURNALBOX DETECTING MEANS- Filed June '21; 1945 6A1? MOVE/145V 7' ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 5, 1949 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE -HOT JOURNAL BOX DETECTING MEANS Herbert F. Kent, Trenton, N. J

Application June 21, 1945, Serial No. 600,725

- Claims. 1

This invention relates to means useful to detect shaft or axle bearings which have become over-heated in the absence of proper lubrication, and is concerned more specifically with means for detecting hot journal boxes of railway cars.

While numerous devices have been heretofore designed for the above stated purpose, their use has been prohibited by reason of their unreliability, their complication and expensiveness, their inadaptability to standard forms of existent journal boxes without extens'ivealterations in the latter, and the difiiculties in installing them.

The chief aim of my invention is to overcome the foregoing drawbacks. This desideratum is realized as hereinafter more fully set forth, through provision of a detector means which in itself is simple and inexpensive; and which can be readily incorporated in standard journal boxes without entailing radical changes in them, at comparatively small cost.

A further aim of my invention is to provide a hot box detecting means having the above attributes which is capable of controlling an audible or visual signal means on the car having the dry or faulty box, and/or effecting the operation of a signal in the locomotive of the train of which the car constitutes a unit through engagement with dragging equipment detector bars such as are ordinarily arranged along railway tracks and adapted to be struck by any dangling part or parts which may have become loose on the train.

Other objects and attendant advantages will appear from the following detailed description of the attached drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a view in cross section of a car journal box conveniently embodying my invention in one form, showing the parts of the device in the positions which they normally occupy.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the device with the parts in the positions which they assume upon over-heating of the journal box; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view corresponding to Fig. 1; showing an alternative construction.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2 of these illustrations, the embodiment of my invention there depicted includes a member 5 in the form of a lever arm which is pivotally connected at 6 to a bracket 1 welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the bottom of the journal box A. The arm 5 is normally maintained in the upright position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 adjacent one side of said box by virtue of having its upper or swinging end connected to a restraining element whereof the link-like component 8 extends into the journal box A through a clearance aperture 9 in the side wall B of the latter, and whereof the extension component I0 (which may be of steel wire) has its inner end anchored in fusible material I i recessed into the brass or bearing plate 0 which contacts directly with the wheel axle journal D. A collar 12 surrounding the component 8 of the restraining element serves as a spacer between the arm 5 and the journal box A, and is in turn surrounded by a helical compression spring l3 which functions in a manner later on explained. Overlapping the pivot connection 6 above and below are helical biasing springs I5 and i6 which have their ends secured by screws l1 and 3 respectively to the arm 5 and the journal box A, and which are confined against lateral displacement by embracing lugs I 9 and 20 likewise on said arm and journal box. The function of the springs l5 and 16 will also be later explained.

Afiixed to the side B of the journal box A is a housing 2| containing a switch whereof the movable contact 22 is urged toward the fixed contact 23 by a spring 24, said switch being normally held open as shown in Fig. 1 through depression of a plunger 25 which is engaged by the arm 5. As shown in Fig. 2 the switch 2| is interposed in a circuit 26 with aremotely placed signal in the form of an electric bulb 21 and a current furnishing battery 28. In practice, the signal may be located at some point where it will be readily observed in the railway car or in the cab of the locomotive of the train of which the car constitutes a unit. The organization described up to this point is intended more especially for passenger cars.

In the event of over-heating of the journal box and attendant melting of the fusible material I I, the spring l3 will immediately act to withdraw the restraining element 8, l0. As a consequence, the arm 5 will drop to the position of Fig. 2 and the switch 2| will be automatically closed by the spring 24 with resultant operation of the signal 21 by current fiow from the battery 28 to indicate the existence of the hot box to the train crew.

In railway installations provided with dragging equipment detector bars such as the one shown at E in Fig. 2, secured to a rail tie F and constituting part of a system for detecting loosed dangling parts on a train, I so dispose the arm 5 that it will, upon being released, strike and break said bars and thereby cause actuation of the usual signal in the locomotive cab. The last described organization is especially advantageous in the operation of long freight trains wherein no other means of detecting hot boxes is in practice other than by personnel. Upon receiving the signal it is of course incumbent upon the engineman here, as in the first described instance, to stop his train to permit inspection for correction of the fault.

It is to be understood that the springs l5 and F6 are so designed as to neutralize or balance each other when the arm 5 is in suspension as in Fig. 2. The springs l5 and I6 can thus operate as shock absorbers for the arm 5 incident to forcible encounter of the latter with turn-outs or other abnormal obstructions along the track before coming into=contactwith the dete'ctor'bars.

In the alternative embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the component Illa of the restraining element is embedded in the Babbitt metal lining lid of the brass or bearing plate C of thetjournal box; sothat upon fusion or wearing away of said lining.

the arm So will be released to function ashoreinbefore described. The other partsz shown inthe modification but not specifically referred to, are

similar to those of Figs. 1 and 2 and in'-orderto preclude the necessity for repetitive description, have been identified with the same reference characters previously employed, except for the addition of the letter a, ineach instance for convenience 'of* more. ready'distinction.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1'. A means for detecting over-heated journal boxes of railwaycars, including a member and means by w-hichit'is-movably secured exteriorly of the journal box; a restraining element for supporting the'member in an elevated position and extending from .the'latter'into the'journal box through anaperture inawall of the box and having its inner end. anchored in fusiblematerial held by apart of the boxin direct contact with the journal of the wheel axle; and resilient means tendin to urge said'member downward from'the journal box. when: released upon melting' of the fusible material 'for capacity to engage signal'contact bars on the'track of the=railway;

2. The invention according toclaim 1, wherein the member'is in theform of a tappet arm which is normally upright with its lower end pivoted to a bracket at the bottom -of the journal box, and with its-upper ordistal end connected to the restraining element.

3. The invention accordingto' claim I; wherein the member is in the form of a tappet arm which is normally upright with its lower end pivoted to a bracket at the bottom of the journal box, and with its upper or distal end connected to the restraining element; and wherein the resilient means is in the form of a helical spring which surrounds the external portion of the restraining element and which is in compression between said arm and the journal box.

4:1.The invention acoonding'to clam-1, wherein themember isizrthe fornrof atappet arm which is normally upright with its lower end pivoted to a bracket at the bottom of the journal box, and with: its uppenon-distal end connected to the restraining element; and wherein shock-absorbing means'm-a-intains said arm in substantially perpendicular. suspension after it is released, with capacity to yield upon meeting abnormal obstructions on the track before encountering the signal contact bars.

5. Thesinventionsaccording toclaim 1, wherein the:memberrlsin=rthe formiofa' tappet arm which is'normally uprighttwithzitslower end=pivoted to a' bracket atthebottom: of the-journal box, and with its= upper: or" dlstal-r endi connected" to: the restraining: element;x springs: overlapping the pivotv joint betweem the tappet arm and the bracketat opposite sides for maintaining said arm. in substantially perpendicular suspension after it. isz releasedi. with. cnpacityto yield upon meetingxwitl'r abnormal: obstructions. onithe track before: encounter-ing: the: signal contact obstructions:

HERBERT F. KENT.

BEFEB-E-NGES' CITED The following ref'erermes" are of record in. the meet this patent? UNITED STATES PATENTS Number N tme- Date 11?;68? Richards- Aug. 1, 1871 1239:4159 Banneyer- Sept. 11, 1917 1,496,194 Ziegler June'3, 1924 2,296,175" *Mbrlioslii" Sept. 15, 1942 

